He said: “Manchester City are in their third year with Guardiola and can aim not only to win the title again but also the Champions League.

“And then there’s Liverpool, who have made great progress with Klopp.

“I will fight until the end for the English title. I am lucky to have a great squad.

“Little by little I have spoken to the players, given that, because of the World Cup, the last ones arrived in the week before the opening game against Huddersfield.

GETTY

Sarri has said he will do everything to win the Premier League title at Chelsea

“But the credit for this efficiency goes to them because they are excellent players.

"With age, I have understood that what makes champions is their willingness to work and their humility.”

Chelsea won their most recent title in 2017 under Conte, whose final act as Blues boss was to win last season’s FA Cup.

Sarri, meanwhile, has yet to win a trophy as a manager and when asked whether his shoes or Conte’s were harder to fill, he replied: “I won nothing with Napoli. Conte, on the other hand, here won and it is difficult to take his place.”